I got the chance to kind of play anthropologist. How do teens text today? Several claimed that they don't text all that much. They call. I don't know if I believe that. Perhaps the texters were the ones not participating in the discussion.

But there were a few things that I learned about their texting habits:

LOL is for girls. A couple guys claimed that they only use LMAO, and using LOL indicates a guy is not straight.

;) means something different to teens. I had heard this before elsewhere, so I didn't need them to spell out what it meant. Although, their reaction was enough to tell me that what I had heard was correct.

One of the questions was "What abbreviations do you use?" I had hoped to get some new ones. Alas, the only one I was unfamiliar with was TFTI (thanks for the invite). (Oh, and SMO, for obvious reasons.) The others: SMH, GTFO, WTG, GTG. (A couple of these are NSFW.)

28 comments:

Well, perhaps they don’t text all that much anymore. Maybe they tweet, or snapchat, or whatever the latest app is now. Interesting that they said they call instead. I was surprised that, with the exception of SMO, I knew all of the other abbreviations.

Perhaps the good news about texting is that you need to know how to read (well, maybe, perhaps there are apps that read texts - I have two cousins with dyslexia (one in her 20's, one a junior in high school), so shame on me for not knowing!) and that it makes teens write. I am pragmatic. Anything that encourages reading and writing is a good thing in my view. Although I wonder at sights like my 20-something son sitting on a couch with his girlfriend (this happened a couple of years ago) - they were texting each other. Maybe they were doing that to have a private conversation but it made me wonder! Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

That was too funny. I had no idea teen boys though LOL was too girly. Who made that up? Just because their boys they need the a** in there?...Okay, that didn't sound right. HAHA! And now they've made a winky face dirty? Kids are strange! :P

I didn't know the wink had an alternative message. Oh-oh, how embarrassed am I going to be when I find out? Good also to know about the LOL vs. LMAO deal. I don't text, but sometimes my characters do, so any bit of information is helpful.

I sent you an email about Unicorn Bell next week. I'd be happy to participate!

I remember when Bubba was in High School. (He graduated in 2007) He got a T-Mobil Family plan and phone all on his own. His best friend was on as his family. One night, they were hanging at the house and I walked outside to find them and some girls who had come up sitting on the front porch. Instead of conversing with one another, they were all lounging around texting other people about the fact they were hanging out together!!! LOL - cause I am a girl and D proud of it!

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About Me

I am a writer, a knitter, and a substitute teacher, not necessarily in that order. TV is my background noise of choice while I work on whatever project comes to hand. I'm currently between novel projects.